ROCKY ROLL: ANGELS LOSE COLORADO RALLIES FOR FOUR RUNS IN EIGHTH FOR VICTORY COLORADO 6, ANGELS 2.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- Ervin Santana had no problem Wednesday living up to his title as the best Angels pitcher not currently showing off his abilities at Triple-A.

Scot Shields, on the other hand, was unable to field his position and opened the door for the Colorado Rockies to take control.

Shields followed a solid outing by Santana by allowing four runs in the eighth inning -- three on a bases-clearing double by Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks' product Jorge Piedra -- as the Rockies won 6-2 in the finale of a three-game series.

Afterward, manager Mike Scioscia fretted not over another fielding chance gone astray, but of missed opportunities that would have changed the complexion of the game. The Angels missed scoring chances in the first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings that loomed large in what was a tight game at the time.

``It's 180 degrees from certainly what we need and what we expect,'' Scioscia said of the five runners left in scoring position by the sixth inning. ``I think you can absorb a little bit of lack of power, you can absorb a little bit of lack of on-base percentage, as long as you're pushing that on-base percentage into scoring position and you're hitting very well with runners in scoring position.

``Our problem is, we're really, really soft in too many areas. We've worked hard to address it. Some of it is inexperience and some of it is guys flat out, not in sync in the batter's box.''

Every time the Angels look like they might start to find their way this season they manage to slide backward. After winning three of four from the Kansas City Royals on the last homestand, the Angels have gone 5-7.

An 8-4 record over that stretch would have the Angels 3(bul) games out of first place in the American League West. Instead, they trail the Oakland Athletics by 6(bul) games.

Santana might have avoided the call for Shields in the eighth inning if not for a fit of wildness in the fourth that raised his pitch count.

The first four Rockies batters in the fourth inning reached base, three of them by walks. Todd Helton opened the inning with a walk and Matt Holliday doubled. Garret Atkins and Brad Hawpe followed with back-to-back walks to force home a run.

Santana did well to only allow one more run as JD Closser delivered a sacrifice fly for a 2-1 Rockies lead.

He gave up two runs on four hits in seven innings and just missed improving to 5-0 in June.

Using a makeshift lineup for the second time in four games, the Angels grabbed a 1-0 lead after two batters.

Maicer Izturis, in the leadoff spot for just the second time, opened with a single to left. Juan Rivera followed with a double to right-center off Rockies starter Jeff Francis that scored Izturis just ahead of the relay throw.

The Angels nearly had a run in the third inning, but Orlando Cabrera was thrown out at home plate while trying to score from first base on a double to left by Vladimir Guerrero.

It was one of three hits on the night for Guerrero, who was batting .141 (11 for 78) in his previous 18games to drop his batting average from .332 to .284. It is Guerrero's lowest batting average at this point of the season in his career.

The Angels finally broke through again to tie the score 2-2 in the seventh inning on a double by Mike Napoli.

Shields (4-5) would have been able to hold the tie if could have fielded a two-out comebacker by Atkins.

With runners on first and second, Atkins hit a bouncer to Shields' right. He got the tip of his glove on the ball, but that only helped to guide it into the hole between third base and shortstop.

Cory Sullivan scored the go-ahead run on the play. Shields then loaded the bases on a walk to Hawpe. Piedra delivered his three-run double off the right-field wall on a 1-1 pitch.

``It was hit right at me, I just couldn't get it,'' Shields said. ``It hit the glove and I don't know what happened. The ball was hit to me and I thought to myself, `I'm out of the inning.' The next thing you know, it's going toward third. It's definitely a play I should have made, especially after we just tied it up. It would have gotten us out of the inning and it's tough to handle right now.''

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Photo:

Colorado's Jorge Piedra (Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks) hits a three-run double in the eighth inning.

Chris Carlson/Associated Press